We heat with an outdoor wood boiler, backed up by a 60,000 BTU propane-fired forced-air furnace, backed up by a 77,000 BTU fireplace insert; only the last can operate without electricity. We installed backups similarly for ensuring our water supply; grid-powered well pump, backed up by shallow-well hand pump, backed up by carrying water (and filtering) from the lake very nearby. A year ago this month I finally backed up these systems with a 12kw solar system (we already had, and still have a 7.5kw backup generator); not because solar is "green" (it's not), and not because it saves money (it doesn't return the investment in less than 10 years without subsidy), but only because it's there (incl. EMP hardening) when the grid goes down. We've had several outages in the past several months which have gone unnoticed, by us; that's why the solar back-up for electrical energy. But as you say, for the masses most of these options are unavailable, as the feds would prefer, and they are therefore being setup for a big fail, that is potentially life-threatening.
I've heard that a lot, but that invites a discussion of whether heat pumps can and are improving in efficiency. But as I say, even if they work great they still create a dependency that can never be great....
This is rather timely given the power outages here in VT right now. I'm very grateful for my wood stove on days like this. I'm glad I never fell for the pellet stove idea, which also requires electricity, and uses a fuel that you can't cut or split yourself, further increasing dependency.
The other problem I have with heat pumps, aside from the dependency on the grid, is the complexity of the things. That can't be good for long-term reliability or cost of repair.
We heat with an outdoor wood boiler, backed up by a 60,000 BTU propane-fired forced-air furnace, backed up by a 77,000 BTU fireplace insert; only the last can operate without electricity. We installed backups similarly for ensuring our water supply; grid-powered well pump, backed up by shallow-well hand pump, backed up by carrying water (and filtering) from the lake very nearby. A year ago this month I finally backed up these systems with a 12kw solar system (we already had, and still have a 7.5kw backup generator); not because solar is "green" (it's not), and not because it saves money (it doesn't return the investment in less than 10 years without subsidy), but only because it's there (incl. EMP hardening) when the grid goes down. We've had several outages in the past several months which have gone unnoticed, by us; that's why the solar back-up for electrical energy. But as you say, for the masses most of these options are unavailable, as the feds would prefer, and they are therefore being setup for a big fail, that is potentially life-threatening.
Off=grid self-reliance is the best argument for solar....
Three people I know that went with heat pumps can’t heat there home affordable in Vt .They have to supplement with other heat sources now .
I've heard that a lot, but that invites a discussion of whether heat pumps can and are improving in efficiency. But as I say, even if they work great they still create a dependency that can never be great....
Agree conversation need to be had.Hopefully before that’s all you can purchase .
UNITE WITH GOD AND LIKE MINDED
And they work with the smart meter which can work with social credit
I'm transitioning to become Amish....
Ditto. At least more like an Amish lifestyle. I wrote a post on this; the Amish have a lot to offer the "English." We should learn.
This is rather timely given the power outages here in VT right now. I'm very grateful for my wood stove on days like this. I'm glad I never fell for the pellet stove idea, which also requires electricity, and uses a fuel that you can't cut or split yourself, further increasing dependency.
The other problem I have with heat pumps, aside from the dependency on the grid, is the complexity of the things. That can't be good for long-term reliability or cost of repair.
I agree on pellet stoves.... :) Always seemed like a departure from self-reliance and VT tradition to me...